Thomas  cole



(No Model.)

-T. GOLE.

BOX FASTENER.

No. 508,285. 4 Patented Nov. 7, 1893.

` -WITNESSES: V V INVENTOH ATVTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS 'COLE,`OF sr. MARTS, MIssoURI, AssIGNoR or' TWO-THIRDS TO JULES R. ROZIER AND EDWARD SCHAAF, or ,SAM PLACE.

'BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION fOrnning part of Letters Patent No. 508,285, dated November '7, 1893.

' Application filed April 2s, 1893. Serial No."472,153. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS COLE, of St. Mary s, in the county of Ste. Genevieve and State of Missouri, have in'vented a new and Improved Crate-Fastener, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates generally to crates and boxes, and particularly to an improved' lid fastening for said crate or box.

The objects of the invention are to provide a safe and simple fastening device which will permit crates being 'packed on top of each other and slid 'about without disturbing the fastening. a

sists incertain details of construction and combination of parts all of which will be fully described.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification-Figure 1 isa perspective View of my improvement and Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the same. V

In practice I have applied my improvement to egg crates only but they are equally appli cable to all classes of crates and transportationboxes and for the purpose of enabling others to make and use' my invention I will describe the various parts in detail,

A indicates the box orcrate which may be of any suitable construction, and divided into cells if desired. B indicates the lid, C the hinge and D the fastening.

The'lid B may be" an ordinary flat top but in practice I prefer ,to make it with the end pieces b which snugly fit the ends of the crate and keep the lid in its proper position both while open and closed. Horizontal cleats or strips a a are secured to the ends of the box A said strips being of the samewidth as the end pieces b but they do not extend entirely to the rear edge of the box.

A metallic strap hinge O pivotally connects the strips a, and end pieces b at each end of the crate, said straps being secured to the rear ends of the strips a and are connected to the end pieces b at a point a' short distance to the With these objects in View myinvention con-- .lower ends to the spring staples'D'il riven into the ends of the crate, Each of these staples has coiled spring side members the normal tendency of whi'ch is to hold the hasp tight uponthe lid. An'aperture d'is made in the hasp near its free end said aperture being designed to receive a vertical stud or pin C1 which is'located in the center of a tapering recess d I produced in the end of the lid. The hasp D is of rigid material and is so shaped that it must be pressed over the pin or stud d until the aperture d' receives the pin. The tension of the spring staples will then hold the hasp in place upon the pin and thus secure the lid. The ends of the lid are recessed as shown to permit the free ends of the hasps to rest thereon and permit one crate to be slid over another without disturbing the fastening. To unfasten the lid, the staples can be pressed up thus relievin g the hasp of all pressure or the end of the hasp may be raised by prying the end above the pin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters I their ends substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS COLE.

Witnesses:

WALTER SCHAAF, LoUIs SOHAAF. 

